Chinsegut Conservation Center July Programs

July 1st 10:00 AM Family Butterfly Bingo: Join us at the Conservation Center for a round of Butterfly Bingo for kids ages 5-9. Kids can explore the different butterflies and lifecycle of butterflies in this bingo themed scavenger hunt. Kids can then create their own butterfly feeder to take home. There is no cost for this program.

July 7th 8:00 PM Movie Night: Visit Chinsegut to view a film on the Forgotten Coast Wildlife Corridor Expedition. This expedition took place in 2015 to highlight the need for greenways across the state through which some of our large iconic wildlife may travel to prevent genetic bottlenecking of the species. During the film snacks and drinks may be purchased for a donation. Donations will help fund the building of a chimney swift tower at Chinsegut.

July 8th All Day Pioneering Skills Day: This is a day full of activities that include essential skills for the early settlers of Florida or for modern homesteaders. Different activities and classes will occur at different times throughout the day, please see the on-line schedule for classes and times at http://MyFWC.com/Chinsegut. Some classes require registration in advance.

July 14th 10:00 AMUF/IFAS Breaking the Lawn Habit: Learn how to escape traditional notions of a rolling green lawn-scape and explore the possibilities of alternate groundcovers. Think outside the green rectangle and create a lawn that fits the needs of your yard. Join Lilly Browning for this free talk on how to bring this concept home.

July 15th 2:00 PM Children in the WILD, Gone Fishing: Children ages 5-9 are invited to bring a parent along for a fun indoor fishing activity. Children can learn about different fishing equipment, some regulations to be aware of and other fishing related skills. This is a free program, registration is preferred so we may provide the right amount of equipment.

July 16th 10:00 AM LEGO Birdhouse: Brick University from Spring Hill is visiting Chinsegut with an exciting nature craft opportunity for kids of all ages. Brick U will be at Chinsegut with all the building blocks required to create a take-home LEGO bird house. Advanced registration is required by July 14th. There is a $25.00 per person fee for this program which cover the cost of the LEGOs and includes snacks and drinks during the build. This build is limited to 20 participants, register by calling (352) 754-6722.

July 18th 10:00 AM Beetle Photography: Hundreds of thousands of types of beetles roam the earth. See how many you can find and photograph at Chinsegut. This program is led by Green-Fly Media and requires registration and a fee. See details on-line at MyFWC.com/Chinsegut.

July 21st 6:30 PM Naval Stores History with Sid Taylor: One of the great industries of southeastern forests was the naval stores industries. Sid Taylor of the Florida forest service will be visiting Chinsegut to discuss the history of the naval stores industry, pine resin products and their relation to the families who lived on the Chinsegut WEA a hundred years ago. No registration required for this free program.

July 21st 8:00 PM Guided Night Hike: Join the Conservation Center Staff for a guided night time hike through Chinsegut WEA. Hike begins with watching bats emerge from the houses near the Conservation Center while listening for common night-hawks and chuck will’s widows. This hiking opportunity is open to ages 16+. Please register in advance at (352) 754-6722. All necessary lights will be provided by the center.

Look how much this bat looks like a flying dog… fuzzy with wings.

July 22nd 10:00 AM Volunteer Chinsegut!: If you have ever been interested in learning more about volunteer projects with FWC this is your opportunity. During this program there will be an informational session on gopher tortoise burrows and a demonstration on the use of burrow scopes. Currently FWC is seeking volunteer help to locate and relocate gopher tortoises in this region. Please register to attend at (352) 754-6722.

July 25th 10:00 AM Black and White Nature Photography: Capture the beauty of nature without color. Professional photographer Alice Herden will walk you through camera settings, lenses and composition to capture stunning black and white images of nature. This course requires registration and a fee. See more information at MyFWC.com/Chinsegut in the Creative Nature Photography and camera basics listing.

July 29th 8:00 AM NASP Basic Archery Instructor: Enrollment is limited for this National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) certification class. Participants must pre-register and fees must be paid by July 7th in order to save your space. Call (352) 754-6722 for more information.

July 30th 8:00 AM Walking Sticks Hike, Perry Oldenburg: This second meet-up of the ‘Walking Sticks’ hiking club will take place at Perry Oldenberg Wildlife and Environmental Area located off of Deer Run Rd North of Brooksville. This hike requires pre-registration, groups sizes limited. Learn about the interesting history of Perry Oldenberg and gopher tortoise mitigation work while hiking a little over a mile at a casual pace.

Multiple offerings for Creative Nature Photography and nature craft opportunities with Green-Fly Media. Always more than meets the eye. Learn about elements in nature by attending one of these hands-on fun programs. Schedule on-line at Eventbrite.com search “Chinsegut Conservation Center”.